Platelet count to spleen diameter ratio and platelet count to spleen area ratio as predictors of esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the utility of the platelet count/spleen diameter ratio and platelet count/spleen area ratio to predict the presence of EV in cirrhotic patients. To fulfill the aim of our study, 100 cirrhotic patients at any stage were recruited from Tropical Medicine department, Tropical outpatient clinic and endoscopy unit. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on clinical, biochemical, imaging and/or histopathological background. Our exclusion criteria were: (1) Patients with active gastrointestinal bleeding, (2) Patients who underwent previous band ligation or variceal sclerotherapy, (3) Patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt, or surgery for portal hypertension, (4) Presence of portal vein thrombosis, (5) Presence of Hepatocellular carcinoma, (6) Patients taking drugs for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding, (7) Patients with active (< 6 months of alcohol abstinence) alcohol abuse, (8) Advanced other organ malignancy, (9) Other severe medical condition (end stage renal disease, congestive heart failure or severe respiratory syndrome), (10) Patients with other causes of splenomegaly or thrombocytopenia (hematological disease).